Screen Australia outlines $20 million games fund

Screen Australia has released the draft guidelines for its new $20 million games fund.

The investment plan is part of a $30 million scheme to help boost the growth of new interactive and multi-platform programs that also covers other areas of entertainment.

Approximately $12 million of the fund is expected to be delivered in the first 12 months once the scheme is ratified.

The draft guidelines were formed following industry consultation, and will be open for further recommendations on potential changes till March 1st.

Up to $5 million has been set aside game games production and $2-to-$3 million for games enterprise, aimed at supporting developers and funding ongoing development of game projects to help improve business sustainability.

Applicants for game production funding can apply for up to $500,000 per project, while game enterprise submissions can ask for up to $800,000. Successful applicants may then receive the full sum asked for or lesser funding depending on what Screen Australia considers appropriate for a particular submission.

The deadline for applications for games enterprise will end on April 22nd.

Game Production funding meanwhile requires the the game be released for public use, not contain advergaming or gambling features, be an original IP held by the studio, and the most senior production employee on the project must have had experience on two or more games already released.

The deadline to apply for games production investment ends on July 12th.

The draft guidelines also state money may be made available each year for game sector-building initiatives, which could include providing access to mentors, collaboration opportunities, networking events or workshops and forums for developers.

“Games are growing faster than any other entertainment sector and Australian developers have had extraordinary global cut through as demonstrated by the success of home-grown games such as Real Racing, Fruit Ninja and LA Noire,” said Screen Australia’s chief operating officer Fiona Cameron.

“The pressure facing the industry is job migration and falling foreign investment. These programs released in draft today go a long way towards realising a strong and sustainable Australian games development sector, to ensure we tap into the huge global appetite for interactive entertainment.”